Electron lattice image interpretation of V2O3 wedge shaped crystal

Abstract

The thickness dependence of a two dimensional lattice image with small lattice spacings (< 5 Å) has been discussed in the theoretical aspect by some authors(1) (2),(3) in the case of zone axis orientation. Our intention is to compare the experimental image with the theoretical one for a vanadium sesquioxide (V2O3) crystal not in the zone axis orientation but in more general orientations. This crystal, one of those which show the metal-insulator transition, is metallic and belongs to the space group at room temperature. The unit cell dimensions in the hexagonal system are a = 4.951 Å and c = 14.003 Å (4). The electron microscope used is a JEM-100C equipped with the fixed specimen stage and operated at 100 kV (Cs = 1.4 mm).Figure 1 shows a lattice image from a wedge shaped crystal. Especially remarkable is the recurrence of similar contrast in three thicknesses regions : < 50 Å,∽ 250Å,and ∽ 450Å.